According to German newspaper Handelsblatt, the European Union and China have initiated talks to eliminate EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and China commerce minister Wang Wentao held discussions at the end of March in Beijing to address the issue. The EU had imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year as a measure to combat what they perceived as unfair advantages due to subsidies provided to Chinese car manufacturers. The primary aim was to establish fair competition rather than block Chinese car producers. The European Commission has expressed a willingness to engage in negotiations with China to find an alternative solution to tariffs.